Floor-clamp



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H.D.MARGOT.

FLOOR CLAMP.

No. 284,747. Patented Sept. 11, 1883.

N. PFIERS. MWWI. WWW. DAC.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;.

' H. D. MARGOT.

'FLOOR CLAMP.

No. 284,747. Patented Sept. 11, 1883-.

N. PETERS. Phqlvulhegnphen Wuhmmu. D. c.

Nrrn

STAT S HENRY D. MARGOT, OF MO FLOOR- UNTAIN VIEXV, CALIFORNIA.

CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of ,Letters Patent No. 284,747, dated September 11, 1883.

Application filed February 12, 1883.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY I). MARGOT, of Mountain View, county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an Improved Machine for Flooring and Ceiling; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful machine for adjusting the matched stuff of floors and ceilings, so that each board may be fitted and secured to its place with accuracy.

My invention consists in certain details of construction, hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

It is the object of my invention to force the boards to their place and hold them until secured, with the exercise of little power and without doing damage to the boards. It is equally adapted for floors and ceilings, and may be used for either.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is aperspective-view of my machine, showing itaffixed to a joint. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a plan, showing the presser-bar P drawn away from the flooring. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4., Sheet 1, is a transverse section across the parallel plates A and an elevation of the inside face of the upright plate 9 and adjusting-plate G.

Let A represent two parallel bars or plates, having a cross-bar, B, at one side, and constituting the frame of the machine.

Fitted upon the plates by means of slots 0 are parallel bars 0 O, which constitute the guidej aws of the device. These, by reason of their slots, are adapted to separate or approach, according to the size of j oists upon which they are to be fitted, as willbe described.

Slotted upon plates A, outside of the guidejaws, are bars D D, forming the clamping-j aws. These are provided with pins or spikes cl, which pass through holes in the guide-jaws and are adapted to enter the joist to hold the machine and furnish the resistance necessary to its operation. These clamping-jaws are held back from-the guide-jaws, so that their pins may remain withdrawn and not interfere with the proper fitting of the guide-jaws. This is accomplished by means of springs a, secured to the guide-jaws and bearing 011 the clampingjawsu Upon the cross-bar B is a bearing, b, in which the lever E is pivoted. This lever (X0 model.)

is provided with. a cam or eccentric head, 6, which passes under bar B and bears against the clamping-j aw l), which said jaw is enough wider than bar B to extend below it some distance, in order that the canrlever may operate against it, Fig. 3. The lever E has a spring-pawhf, which engages with a rack, F, whereby the lever may be held in any desired position. The other ends of the plates A are formed with ratchet-teeth m. Fitted to slide upon these ends is a stop or adj listing-bar, G. Upon this is secured an upright plate, g, in which are horizontal slots 9', Fig. 4. Upon the outer side of this plate are pawls H, having studs h fitting through slots whereby said pawls are secured and guided. These pawls are here shown as constructed with bifurcated ends embracing the plates A, whereby they guide themselves. They are held in enplates by means of a spring, I, secured to the to force them oppositely.

To the inner side of plate 9 is pivoted a lever, J. The guiding-studs h of the pawls H j, secured to said lever one above and the other below its pivot-point, whereby through the movement of the lever the pawls H may be simultaneously to allow the stop-bar G to be adjusted close up to the clamping-j aw D.

The operation of the devices, as far as explained, is as follows: The machine is fitted to a joist, and it fits down upon it. If to a ceiling-beam, it fits up under it. The guide-jaws O O fit over the sides of the joist by the adjustment of the bar G. The'stop-bar G set on one side and the crossbar B fixed upon the other insure the fit and resist the strain of the clamping-jaws. Thelever E is now ,drawn down, and its cam-head eforces in the clamping-j aw "D upon that side. "he pins (1 meeting with resistance in entering the joist, the pressure has a tendency to force that side of the ma chine away from the joist, thus drawing in on the outer side and, causing the pins of the other clamping j aw to enter the joist, both clamping-jaws, which are themselves limited by stop-bar G and cross-bar 13. Thus one lewithdrawn from engagement with the teeth or gagement with the ratchet-teeth m of said plate 9 and bearing outward] y upon each pawl are connected with this lever by means of rods guiding-jaws yield to their limit against the ver is made to operate the machine and to fix it to the joist. 1 The pins in the clamping-j aws should be arranged out of a horizontal line in order to prevent them from injuring the joist by any tendency to split it.

Secured upon top of the plates A is a chan-. nelguide, n, in which is fittedthe ratchet-sh ank o of the bracket 0.

P is a casting or pressure-bar, bolted to the bracket. This bar is provided with a groove, 2, in front, which is adapted to fit over the corresponding tongue of the board against which it is forced. Its top center is cut away at q in order to allow the nail to be driven into the board conveniently.

Pivoted in a bearing, N, of the channelguide a is the main lever B, having a seg- -T, upon which has beensecured a board, t,

and I show another one, t, ready to be forced to its place.

The machine is clamped to the joist in the manner already described. The main lever is then forced down and the grooved pressure casting or bar is forced forward against the tongued board 25. Its pressure forces it to its place with certainty and without such injury or damage which frequently results from the bracing-bars, which are hammered into place to fit the board.

The nail may be driven in the usual place by reason of the cut-out top q of the pressurebar.

The machine may be made conveniently small and still have sufficient power to accomplish its purpose. Its levers will not be in the way as they are all arranged to move in a vertical plane, and will not therefore be interfered with by adjoining joists. j

By means of the adjustable stop-bar G the machine may be made to fit any size joist. I may have different pressure castings or bars P to fit different size matched stuff, and one may be readily substituted for the other.

When the machine is used for ceilings the long ends of the guide-jaws G will pass above the boards already in place and thus serve to hold itself. When used for flooring, they may pass under; or, better still, they need not be so long, as the machine finds its support 011 the joist.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for adjusting the matched stuff of floors and ceilings, the frame, consisting of the plates A and bars B G,the guidejaws CO, slotted on plates A, the sliding clamping-jaws D D, having pins d, operating through jaws O O, the intervening springs a, and the lever E, having a cam-head, e, for forcing said pins d into the joist to secure the frame thereto, in combination with the pressure-bar 1?, and means for forcing said bar against the board, substantially as herein described.

2. In a machine for adjusting the matched stuff of floors and ceilings, the plates A, having ratchet ends m, cross-bar B, adjustable guide-jaws O C, and adjustable clamping-jaws D D, in combination with the sliding stop-bar G, and the means for adjusting it, consisting of the pawls H, engaging with plates A, spring I, lever J, and rods j,-connecting said lever with the pawls, substantially as herein described.

3. A machine for adjusting the matched stuff of floors and ceilings, consisting of the plates A, fixed cross-bar B, and adjustable stopbar G, the sliding guide-jaws C C, sliding clamping-jaws D D, having pins d and intervening springs a, the lever E, having camhead 6 for forcing the device to clamp the j oist, the pressure-bar P, and the means for forcing it against the board, consisting of the bracket HENRY DANIEL MARGOT.

\Vitnesses:

G. T. Wnesrnrr, WV. A. WooDIs. 

